Four days ago we were exploring Murdock Basin in the Uintas for the first time. While we were in the area I wanted to check out Cataract Gorge on the Duchesne River but we ran out of time. Today AmyZ and I headed back up to complete the job.
The road leading down to the Duchesne River splits off of the Murdock Basin Road. It's nearly, but note quite as rough as the latter, but it's much steeper, especially as it makes its final switchbacks down to the river level. The road ends at the east portal of the Duchesne Tunnel, built in 1954 for six miles through the mountains to divert the Duchesne's water to the Provo River that the Mirror Lake Highway follows. That means that the flow in the Duchesne below the tunnel diversion is usually slowed to a trickle, allowing hikers to descend through Cataract Gorge by following the river bed.
That wasn't the case today. Almost nothing was flowing through the tunnel, even as water was spilling over the diversion dam. It quickly became apparent that we'd have to hike along the rim of the gorge, rather than down through its gut.
We arrived behind one other vehicle to find only a solo camper at the lake behind the diversion dam. No one else was there. We first trekked to Spencer Falls on the Little Deer Creek that feeds into the gorge.
We then headed south above the west bank of the Duchesne River, trying to find a spot where we could descend to the river's edge.
That required a full two miles of bushwhacking. Some places like the forest photographed below offered easy walking, while others were filled with tangled deadfall, thick underbrush and dead-end ledges. As a result our GPS track below shows ample zigging and zagging to avoid obstacles.
We eventually found a spot where a minor stream descended steeply between the cliffs to allow us to reach the water. Here we paused for lunch, as we couldn't keep Jake out of the river.
After lunch we opted to hike up the riverbed, figuring that we'd see how far we could go and also assuming that alternative routes leading back to the rim would be easier to see from below. We didn't get 100 yards before we had to take off our hiking boots and cross to the opposite shore, barely able to stand on moss-covered rocks in the swift current. Jake has a definite advantage with four points of contact!
Another hundred yards upstream and we hit another roadblock. Realizing that hiking upstream would be nearly impossible, and with a small stream entering the river on the east bank, we opted to climb its waterfall to regain the rim, this time on the opposite shore.
We continued north, eventually stumbling upon an abandoned road and/or ATV trail. This provided easier going, although it was still littered with deadfall, and we reached the diversion ponds much more quickly than the time we made on our outbound leg on the west rim.
Much to our surprise the once-empty parking area was now filled, as was the diversion pond with swimmers. We decided to try again to find a way down to the heart of the gorge, where the most interesting water formations are located.
This required much trial and error, but by shimmying along a shale-laden shelf some 20 feet above the floor of the gorge we all found ourselves sitting on a slab of white granite right next to the roar of the water. Even Jake was willing to go for it -- I'm starting to wonder if that dog needs to know more fear.
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/69728205[/vimeo]
Minutes later Jake was back swimming in the diversion pond as AmyZ and I each enjoyed a cold one before the bumpy ride back to civilization. Anyone interested in visiting the area may view our GPS track on Google Earth via this attachment:
View attachment 2013-07-04 1140am Cataract Gorge hike.kmz
It was a great way to enjoy the Independence Day holiday in a very special place. Happy July 4th everyone!
The road leading down to the Duchesne River splits off of the Murdock Basin Road. It's nearly, but note quite as rough as the latter, but it's much steeper, especially as it makes its final switchbacks down to the river level. The road ends at the east portal of the Duchesne Tunnel, built in 1954 for six miles through the mountains to divert the Duchesne's water to the Provo River that the Mirror Lake Highway follows. That means that the flow in the Duchesne below the tunnel diversion is usually slowed to a trickle, allowing hikers to descend through Cataract Gorge by following the river bed.
That wasn't the case today. Almost nothing was flowing through the tunnel, even as water was spilling over the diversion dam. It quickly became apparent that we'd have to hike along the rim of the gorge, rather than down through its gut.
We arrived behind one other vehicle to find only a solo camper at the lake behind the diversion dam. No one else was there. We first trekked to Spencer Falls on the Little Deer Creek that feeds into the gorge.
We then headed south above the west bank of the Duchesne River, trying to find a spot where we could descend to the river's edge.
That required a full two miles of bushwhacking. Some places like the forest photographed below offered easy walking, while others were filled with tangled deadfall, thick underbrush and dead-end ledges. As a result our GPS track below shows ample zigging and zagging to avoid obstacles.
We eventually found a spot where a minor stream descended steeply between the cliffs to allow us to reach the water. Here we paused for lunch, as we couldn't keep Jake out of the river.
After lunch we opted to hike up the riverbed, figuring that we'd see how far we could go and also assuming that alternative routes leading back to the rim would be easier to see from below. We didn't get 100 yards before we had to take off our hiking boots and cross to the opposite shore, barely able to stand on moss-covered rocks in the swift current. Jake has a definite advantage with four points of contact!
Another hundred yards upstream and we hit another roadblock. Realizing that hiking upstream would be nearly impossible, and with a small stream entering the river on the east bank, we opted to climb its waterfall to regain the rim, this time on the opposite shore.
We continued north, eventually stumbling upon an abandoned road and/or ATV trail. This provided easier going, although it was still littered with deadfall, and we reached the diversion ponds much more quickly than the time we made on our outbound leg on the west rim.
Much to our surprise the once-empty parking area was now filled, as was the diversion pond with swimmers. We decided to try again to find a way down to the heart of the gorge, where the most interesting water formations are located.
This required much trial and error, but by shimmying along a shale-laden shelf some 20 feet above the floor of the gorge we all found ourselves sitting on a slab of white granite right next to the roar of the water. Even Jake was willing to go for it -- I'm starting to wonder if that dog needs to know more fear.
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/69728205[/vimeo]
Minutes later Jake was back swimming in the diversion pond as AmyZ and I each enjoyed a cold one before the bumpy ride back to civilization. Anyone interested in visiting the area may view our GPS track on Google Earth via this attachment:
View attachment 2013-07-04 1140am Cataract Gorge hike.kmz
It was a great way to enjoy the Independence Day holiday in a very special place. Happy July 4th everyone!